MBB To Face Quinnipiac To Open Paradise Jam

NEW ROCHELLE, NY - The Iona College men's basketball team will open up the 2012 U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam against the Northeast Conference's Quinnipiac Friday, Nov. 16 at the UVI Sports and Fitness Center on the island of St. Thomas. The Gaels will meet the Bobcats for the first time in their history.

Iona takes on Quinnipiac in the final opening round contest Friday night at 9:00 pm ET. Depending on the result, the Maroon & Gold faces its second opponent - either Connecticut or Wake Forest - Saturday (Nov. 17) or Sunday (Nov. 18). The other side of the bracket features first round matchups: New Mexico vs. Illinois-Chicago and Mercer vs. George Mason.

All eight teams will play their final game on Monday (Nov. 19). Game times are subject to change due to televsion.

The U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam basketball tournament offers NCAA Division I college basketball teams excellent early season competition in an exotic island setting. Since 2000, many of the nation’s finest teams and their fans have converged on St. Thomas to test their skills and enjoy some fun in the sun.

Fan travel packages will be available through Iona's official travel partner All Sports International. For more information, contact Assistant AD / Development Jay Judge (914-633-2071 or jjudge@iona.edu).

The Gaels last participated in the Paradise Jam in 2008, posting a 1-2 mark in the three games. Iona took the Big 10's Wisconsin to overtime in the opener, falling 60-58 to the Badgers before coming back a day later to defeat Valparaiso 75-55. In the fourth place game finale, Iona dropped a 64-62 decision to Conference USA's Southern Miss.

The Maroon & Gold returns to the Caribbean for the second straight year after a 2-1 performance at last season's Puerto Rico Tipoff in San Juan.

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